Prevent is one of the four elements of CONTEST, the government’s counter-terrorism strategy. It aims to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. The Home Office works with local authorities and a wide range of government departments, and community organisations to deliver the Prevent Strategy.
The Prevent Strategy:
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responds to the ideological challenge we face from terrorism and aspects of extremism, and the threat we face from those who promote these views
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provides practical help to prevent individuals from being drawn into terrorism and ensure they are given appropriate advice and support
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works with a wide range of institutions (including education, criminal justice, faith, charities, online and health) where there are risks of radicalisation that we need to deal with.
The strategy covers all forms of terrorism, including far right extremism and some aspects of non-violent extremism.
Elearning
Provider: DfE
published: Free
Prevent sits alongside long-established safeguarding duties on professionals to protect people from a range of other harms such as substance abuse, involvement in gangs and physical and sexual exploitation.
Podcasts
Video
Websites
It can be hard to know what to do if you’re worried someone close is expressing extreme views or hatred, which could lead to them harming themselves or others. Working with other organisations, the police protect vulnerable people from being exploited by extremists through a Home Office programme called Prevent. Act early and tell us your concerns in confidence. You won’t be wasting our time and you won’t ruin lives, but you might save them.
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Fully Human is the research and development arm of the PSHE Association. It’s our place to think, stretch out and join the dots between this fast changing world and what might best support children and young people to navigate it.
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Documents
Author: DfE
Published: 29-08-2024
The Department for Education (DfE) regional Prevent coordinators support and improve Prevent delivery in each region of England. Their role includes implementing Prevent duty responsibilities across schools, further education (FE) and higher education (HE) settings, as well as any other Department for Education interests in the region.
Classroom Resources
While the chances of being caught up in an attack are rare, these free lessons — developed these lessons in collaboration with the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) as part of the Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) for YOUTH campaign — provide vital guidance which can be applied to many places and situations.
Category: Prevent
Audience: KS3, KS4
Developed by: PSHE Association/NaCTSO
Duration (minutes): 2×60
Keywords:
The two lessons cover: the three steps of RUN HIDE TELL and when it would be appropriate to use them; the importance of not using a mobile phone to take photos or film in the event of a knife or gun attack; how to identify suspicious behavior and/or items, and the appropriate actions to take.
The PSHE Association have put together these practical suggestions for ways you can structure questioning, discussion or further learning.
Category: Prevent
Audience: KS1, KS2
Developed by:
Duration (minutes):
Keywords:
Although the PSHE Association normally advise that teaching and learning in PSHE education is built into a planned progressive programme, there are times when teachers need to respond immediately to unforeseen events, such as terrorist attacks.
They have put together these practical suggestions for ways you can structure questioning, discussion or further learning.
When a terrorist attack occurs, pupils will hear about it in a number of ways — some of which may be inaccurate, untrue, or based on rumour or speculation. Wherever they occur, events may create feelings of personal anxiety and fear that children can find hard to articulate. Giving them a context to discuss, question and express their thoughts and feelings will help them to process what has happened in a safe environment with a trusted adult.
Although the PSHE Association normally advise that teaching and learning in PSHE education is built into a planned progressive programme, there are times when you may need to respond immediately to unforeseen events, such as terrorist attacks.
Category: Prevent
Audience: KS3, KS4
Developed by: PSHE Association
Duration (minutes): N/A
Keywords:
Terrorist attacks can create a variety of feelings, including curiosity, excitement, anxiety or fear. This discussion framework can be adapted to a range of situations, and provides a framework for young people to discuss such events and process what has happened in the safety of a classroom.
News
29/03/2025: Students want free-speech clarity but universities fear catch-22
Clearer advice is needed on how to make campuses inclusive without falling foul of free speech regulations, the National Union of Students (NUS) has said.
18/12/2024: Threat against UK ‘smouldering’, top counter terror officer warns
The UK is facing a “smouldering” terror threat level with children as young as 10 accessing extreme online material, one of the country’s most senior counter-terrorism officers has warned.
10/08/2024: Children to be taught how to spot extremist content and fake news online
Education secretary launches review of curriculum in primary and secondary schools in England aimed at teaching critical thinking.
When attempting to identify extremist behaviour in a young person we often see many of the same characteristics that we see in other vulnerabilities, but some are specific to extremism.
Speak to us
Speak to your local Prevent Team if you would like to discuss any concerns on:
01392 225130
Please allow this number to ring until the answerphone connects as it calls all of our offices and may not be answered immediately.
